St. Francis University takes flight with aviation program

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Classes have started up for the fall semester at St. Francis University and some students are getting a look into the aviation industry.

The institution offers over 100 programs to study, ranging from different areas of work. This year, the university took flight with a brand new program designed around airplanes.

“What we’re trying to develop is an entire aviation industry here,” Rick McQuaide, member of the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority Board said.

The Aviation Education Center, located at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, gives students the hands-on experience of dealing with all facets of aviation. Students get to learn the airplane inside and out while working with different parts, such as:

• Sheet Metal
• Airframe components
• Electronics

The main purpose is to increase the aviation industry that has lacked employees, especially in local areas like Cambria County.

“There was a need for manufacturers in the current area,” Brianna Pavkovich, the Director of Aviation Maintenance Technical School at St. Francis University said. “We wanted to be able to retain some of the workers that may have been displaced and create better opportunities for them.”

Since 2017, the program has had a couple of students who wanted to pursue careers in aviation. This year, 85 students have started the journey to get their wings in the program.

“Norton Aviation and St. Francis went together on a flight school,” McQuaide said. “And from there, that flight school has become very successful. So, the second part of that would be to train mechanics as well.”

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With the program up and running to start the year, the future of the aviation industry in Central Pennsylvania lies in Johnstown. Since the program is built within the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, the board feels that they can benefit from students under their roof.

“It’s our vision that once flights or the mechanics school is up and running and producing qualified mechanics, that we could bring in more aviation maintenance work to the airport,” McQuaide said.

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